Overhead display system for vehicles

Abstract

An overhead display system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a trim panel, a set of brackets, and a plurality of display units. The brackets are disposed within an interior region of the trim panel, and the display units are mounted on the brackets through openings formed in the trim panel. The display units are arranged such that a pair of screens can be oriented in both a rearward-facing direction and a forward-facing direction. The system is configured as a module that can be readily installed in a roof structure of a vehicle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An overhead display system for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
 a mounting assembly including a first bracket; 
 a trim panel including a first bulging portion, the first bracket being disposed within a hollow first interior region formed in the first bulging portion, the first interior region defined in part by a first oblique side and a second oblique side joined together along a nadir portion, the nadir portion representing the lowermost portion of the trim panel relative to a vertical axis running from a roof of the vehicle to a floor of the vehicle; 
 a first display unit disposed against an outer surface of the first oblique side; and 
 a first set of openings formed in the first oblique side; 
 wherein the first display unit is mounted onto the first bracket through the first set of openings. 
 
     
     
       2. The overhead display system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second display unit disposed against an outer surface of the second oblique side. 
     
     
       3. The overhead display system of  claim 2 , wherein the first display unit faces a first direction configured for presentation to rearward-facing vehicle passengers, and the second display unit faces a second direction configured for presentation to forward-facing vehicle passengers. 
     
     
       4. The overhead display system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is shaped and dimensioned to be received in a recessed region of a roof panel of the vehicle such that a lowermost portion of each display unit is at or above the level of the surrounding surface of the roof panel relative to the vertical axis. 
     
     
       5. The overhead display system of  claim 1 , wherein the trim panel further includes a second bulging portion that is substantially similar to the first bulging portion. 
     
     
       6. The overhead display system of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting assembly further includes a second bracket that is substantially similar to the first bracket, and the second bracket is disposed in a hollow second interior region formed in the second bulging portion. 
     
     
       7. The overhead display system of  claim 6 , wherein a second display unit is mounted onto the second bracket through a second set of openings formed in the second bulging portion. 
     
     
       8. The overhead display system of  claim 7 , wherein the first display unit and the second display unit are oriented along the same direction. 
     
     
       9. The overhead display system of  claim 5 , wherein the first bulging portion and second bulging portion are bridged together by a central recessed portion. 
     
     
       10. The overhead display system of  claim 9 , wherein the central recessed portion is configured to receive a speaker device. 
     
     
       11. A trim panel of an overhead display system for a vehicle, the trim panel comprising:
 a chassis including a base portion substantially aligned with a horizontal plane and a first bulging portion that extends downward from the base portion, the first bulging portion including:
 an internal surface and an external surface; 
 a nadir portion representing the lowermost portion of the trim panel relative to a vertical axis running from a roof of the vehicle to a floor of the vehicle; 
 a plurality of side portions comprising a first oblique side, a second oblique side, a distal side, and a proximal side, whereby each side portion of the plurality of side portions extends in a generally upward direction from the nadir portion relative to the vertical axis; 
 a substantially hollow interior region formed by the internal surface and partially enclosed by the plurality of side portions and nadir portion; and 
 a first set of openings formed in the first oblique side and a second set of openings formed in the second oblique side. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The trim panel of  claim 11 , wherein a lateral cross-section of the first bulging portion is substantially mound-shaped. 
     
     
       13. The trim panel of  claim 12 , wherein the chassis further includes a second bulging portion that is substantially similar to the first bulging portion, and the first bulging portion and second bulging portion are bridged together by a central recessed portion. 
     
     
       14. The trim panel of  claim 13 , wherein the base portion comprises a substantially rectangular frame, and the first bulging portion is disposed adjacent to a first lateral edge of the frame and the second bulging portion is disposed adjacent to a second lateral edge of the frame, the first lateral edge and second lateral edge corresponding to opposing sides of the frame. 
     
     
       15. The trim panel of  claim 14 , wherein the distal side of the first bulging portion is joined to the first lateral edge. 
     
     
       16. The trim panel of  claim 13 , wherein the central recessed portion includes an elongated opening configured to retain a speaker panel. 
     
     
       17. A method of assembling an overhead display system for a vehicle, the method including:
 inserting a first bracket into a first interior region formed within a first bulging portion of a trim panel, the first bulging portion including a plurality of side portions that extend in an upward direction from a nadir portion and surround the first interior region, wherein the nadir portion represents the lowermost portion of the trim panel relative to a vertical axis running from a roof of the vehicle to a floor of the vehicle; 
 positioning a first display unit against a first outer surface of the first bulging portion; and 
 connecting the first bracket to the first display unit through a first set of openings formed in the first bulging portion. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 positioning a second display unit against a second outer surface of the first bulging portion; and 
 connecting the first bracket to the second display unit through a second set of openings formed in the first bulging portion such that the first display unit is forward-facing and the second display unit is rearward-facing. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 inserting a second bracket into a second interior space of a second bulging portion of the trim panel; 
 positioning a second display unit against a second outer surface of the second bulging portion; and 
 connecting the second bracket to the second display unit through a second set of openings formed in the second bulging portion. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising installing a speaker grill panel into an opening formed in a central recessed portion of the trim panel.